Manifestly Illegal: Israeli International Law Scholars on the Stated Plan to “Concentrate” the Palestinian Population in South Gaza

July 14, 2025

By Eliav Lieblich and Tamar Megiddo

Along with a group of other Israeli international law scholars, we have sent an urgent letter to Israel’s Minister of Defense, the IDF Chief of Staff, the Attorney General and other senior officials concerning a plan, presented by the Minister of Defense Israel Katz, to “concentrate” the population of Gaza in a so-called “humanitarian city” to be established on the ruins of Rafah. We argue that the plan is manifestly illegal, and if carried out would amount to a series of grave international crimes, and thus call upon the recipients to renounce it and ensure that it is not implemented.